Improvement in the manufacture of boots and shoes



F. n. BALL OU. Manufacture of Boots and Shoes.

No.155, 568. PatentedOct.6,1874.

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FRANCIS D. BALLOU, OF ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,568, dated October6, 1874 application filed July 31, 1874.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FRANCIS D.-BA LL0U, of Abington, Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, of whichthe following is-a specification:

In the manufacture of 'boots and shoes by machinery, in which theordinary method of attachment of the sole to the welt by hand isfollowed, it is desirable to do the stitching of the sole close to theupper without removing the last, to use a deep vertical channel in thesole for the thread attaching the Welt to the sole, and to be able torestore the sole to a smooth appearance readily. This I do by thefollowing manipulations, to which the sole is submitted substantially inorder.

Figure 1 shows a section of a channeled sole; Fig. 2, a section of asole prepared to apply, ready for sewing.- Fig. 3 is a perspective ofthe same.

First. The sole, properly wetted, so as to work readily, is channeled bya vertical channel, enlarged into a thread-cavity at the bottom, asshown at a, Fig. 1.

Second. An outwardly-extending flange is next turned down, including thechanneled parts, as shown at b, Fig. 2, the sole being rounded eitherbefore, after, or at the time of turning the flange. The line on whichthe sole is turned should coincide very nearly with the line of stitchesattaching the welt to the upper when the sole is applied, as by thismeans there will be'no slack in the welt when the sole is turned back infinishing.

. Third. The channel is opened through its whole length, by crowding theleather of the channel-cover to the sides, so that the channel ispractically of uniform width in all its depth. This is shown at 0, Figs.2 and 3, the displaced leather forming ridges along the edges of theopened channels.

Fourth. The sole thus prepared is applied to the boot or shoe andattached to the welt by a line of stitches laid in the channel by awax-thread machine suitable for the purpose.

Fifth. The flange is rolled back, and the channel. closed over thestitches by rolling, hammering, or other suitable way, and the sole istrimmed and the boot or shoe finished up in any usual way.

I claim- As an improvement in the art of making boots and shoes bymachinery, for the purpose of preparing a sole for attachment to thewelt by wax-thread sewing mechanism, the three successive combinedmanipulations numbered 1 2 3, above set forth, substantially asdescribed.

FRANCIS D. BALLOU.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. COPELAND, HEBRON LIBBEY.

